Application for New Awards; National Center for Information and Technical Support for Postsecondary Students With Disabilities, 35323-35329 [2015-15191]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 118 (Friday, June 19, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35323-35329]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15191]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Application for New Awards; National Center for Information and 
Technical Support for Postsecondary Students With Disabilities

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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Overview Information

    National Center for Information and Technical Support for 
Postsecondary Students with Disabilities
    Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 
2015.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.116D.

DATES: Applications Available: June 19, 2015.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 3, 2015.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of this program is to support a 
National Center for Information and Technical Support for Postsecondary 
Students with Disabilities (the Center) to provide technical assistance 
and information on best and promising practices for students with 
disabilities as they transition to or attend postsecondary education. 
Institutions of higher education, as well as elementary and secondary 
schools, have legal obligations under two civil rights laws prohibiting 
disability discrimination, section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 
1973 (29 U.S.C. 794) and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 
(ADA) (42 U.S.C. 12101-12213). The technical assistance and information 
provided by the Center can help students, parents, and educational 
officials in determining how to meet these obligations and ensure the 
rights of students with disabilities. In particular, the Center can 
assist students with disabilities and their families in understanding 
that in institutions of higher education, students with disabilities do 
not have the same rights and protections they had in secondary school 
under section 504 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 
(IDEA), 20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq., for eligible children with 
disabilities. Students with disabilities and their parents need to 
understand the differences in these rights and responsibilities as they 
enter college and pursue postsecondary education. Specifically, unlike 
students in secondary school, postsecondary students are responsible 
for requesting the academic adjustments, auxiliary aids and services, 
and other accommodations they need in order to succeed, and are 
expected to comply with reasonable requirements that an institution of 
higher education may have concerning documentation of disability and 
the need for accommodations under section 504 and the ADA.

    Note:  A more detailed explanation of the differences in rights 
and responsibilities of students with disabilities in secondary 
school and postsecondary institutions can be found in two pamphlets 
issued by the Department's Office for Civil Rights. They are 
``Transition of Students With Disabilities to Postsecondary 
Education: A Guide for High School Educators,'' available at: 
www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/transitionguide.html and 
``Students with Disabilities Preparing for Postsecondary Education: 
Know Your Rights and Responsibilities,'' available at: www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/transition.html.

    Priorities: This notice contains one absolute priority and one 
invitational priority. In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv), the 
absolute priority is from section 777(a) of the Higher Education Act of 
1965, as amended (HEA) (20 U.S.C. 1140q(a)).
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2015 and any subsequent year in which we 
make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition, 
this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we 
consider only applications that meet this priority.
    This priority is:
    Entities that can demonstrate the experience and capacity to 
improve postsecondary recruitment, transition, retention, and 
completion rates of students with disabilities by providing:
    1. Assistance to students and families. The Center must provide 
information and technical assistance to students with disabilities and 
the families of students with disabilities to support students across 
the broad spectrum of disabilities, including--
    (a) Information to assist individuals with disabilities who are 
prospective students of an institution of higher education in planning 
for postsecondary education while the students are in secondary school;
    (b) Information and technical assistance provided to individualized 
education program teams (as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1414(d)(1)(B)) and 
teams determining services under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act 
of 1973, as amended, for secondary school students with disabilities, 
and to early outreach and student services programs, including programs 
authorized under subparts 2, 4, and 5 of title IV of the HEA, to 
support students across a broad

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spectrum of disabilities with the successful transition to 
postsecondary education;
    (c) Research-based supports, services, and accommodations which are 
available in postsecondary settings, including services provided by 
other agencies such as vocational rehabilitation;
    (d) Information on student mentoring and networking opportunities 
for students with disabilities; and
    (e) Effective recruitment and transition programs at postsecondary 
educational institutions.
    2. Assistance to institutions of higher education. The Center must 
provide information and technical assistance to faculty, staff, and 
administrators of institutions of higher education to improve the 
services provided to, the accommodations for, the retention rates of, 
and the completion rates of, students with disabilities in higher 
education settings, which may include--
    (a) Collection and dissemination of best and promising practices 
and materials for accommodating and supporting students with 
disabilities, including practices and materials supported by the 
grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements authorized under subparts 
1, 2, and 3 of title VII, part D, subpart 4 of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 
1140q);
    (b) Development and provision of training modules for higher 
education faculty on exemplary practices for accommodating and 
supporting postsecondary students with disabilities across a range of 
academic fields, which may include universal design for learning and 
practices supported by the grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements 
authorized under subparts 1, 2, and 3 of title VII, part D, subpart 4 
of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1140q); and
    (c) Development of technology-based tutorials for higher education 
faculty and staff, including new faculty and graduate students, on best 
and promising practices related to support and retention of students 
with disabilities in postsecondary education.
    3. Information collection and dissemination. The Center will be 
responsible for building, maintaining, and updating a database of 
disability support services information with respect to institutions of 
higher education, or for expanding and updating an existing database of 
disabilities support services information with respect to institutions 
of higher education. This database shall be available to the general 
public through a Web site. This database and Web site must include 
available information on--
    (a) Disability documentation requirements;
    (b) Support services available;
    (c) Links to financial aid;
    (d) Accommodations policies;
    (e) Accessible instructional materials;
    (f) Other topics relevant to students with disabilities; and
    (g) The information in the report described in paragraph (5) below.
    4. Disability support services. The Center must work with 
organizations and individuals with proven expertise related to 
disability support services for postsecondary students with 
disabilities to evaluate, improve, and disseminate information related 
to the delivery of high quality disability support services at 
institutions of higher education.
    5. Review and report. Not later than three years after the 
establishment of the Center, and every two years thereafter, the Center 
must prepare and disseminate a report to the Secretary and the 
Congressional authorizing committees analyzing the condition of 
postsecondary success for students with disabilities. The report must 
include--
    (a) A review of the activities and the effectiveness of the 
programs authorized under title VII, part D of the HEA;
    (b) Annual enrollment and graduation rates of students with 
disabilities in institutions of higher education from publicly reported 
data;
    (c) Recommendations for effective postsecondary supports and 
services for students with disabilities, and how such supports and 
services may be widely implemented at institutions of higher education;
    (d) Recommendations on reducing barriers to full participation for 
students with disabilities in higher education; and
    (e) A description of strategies with a demonstrated record of 
effectiveness in improving the success of such students in 
postsecondary education.
    6. Staffing of the Center. In hiring employees, the Center must 
consider the expertise and experience of prospective employees in 
providing training and technical assistance to practitioners.

    Note: Web sites established or maintained to carry out any 
project funded under this competition must meet WCAG 2.0 AA 
standards (Source: www.w3.org/TR/2008/REC-WCAG20-20081211/). 
Documents posted on grantee Web sites--at a minimum--must meet the 
Department of Education's accessibility standards set out at 
www2.ed.gov/internal/internalguidelines.html.

    Invitational Priority: For FY 2015 and any subsequent year in which 
we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this 
competition, this priority is an invitational priority. Under 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(1), we do not give an application that meets this 
invitational priority a competitive or absolute preference over other 
applications.
    This priority is:
    Entities that intend to collaborate with The National Technical 
Assistance Center on Improving Transition to Postsecondary Education 
and Employment for Students with Disabilities (www.nsttac.org), the 
Center for Parent Information and Resources(www.parentcenterhub.org) 
and the National Collaboration on Workforce and Disability (www.ncwd-youth.info), and with one or more additional disability-related 
organization(s) of their choice.

    Program Authority:  20 U.S.C. 1140q(a).
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 82, 84, 86, 97, 
98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to 
Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and suspension (Nonprocurement) in 
2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department 
in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost 
Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 
200, as adopted and amended in 2 CFR part 3474.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative agreement.
    Estimated Available Funds: $2,475,000.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a 
budget exceeding $2,475,000 for the entire performance period. The 
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education may change the maximum 
amount through a notice published in the Federal Register.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 1.

    Note:  The Department is not bound by any estimates in this 
notice.

    Project Period: Up to 48 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Under section 777(a)(3)of the HEA, an 
``eligible entity'' is an institution of higher education that meets 
the definition in section 101 of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1001); a nonprofit 
organization; or a partnership of two or more such IHEs or 
organizations, with demonstrated expertise in:
    (a) Supporting students with disabilities in postsecondary 
education;

[[Page 35325]]

    (b) Technical knowledge necessary for the dissemination of 
information in accessible formats;
    (c) Working with diverse types of institutions of higher education, 
including community colleges; and
    (d) The subjects necessary to support students across the broad 
spectrum of disabilities.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: You can obtain an 
application package via the Internet or from the Education Publications 
Center (ED Pubs).
    To obtain a copy via the Internet, use the following address: 
www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/grantapps/.
    To obtain a copy from ED Pubs, write, fax, or call the following: 
ED Pubs, U.S. Department of Education, P.O. Box 22207, Alexandria, VA 
22304. Telephone, toll free: 1-877-433-7827. FAX: (703) 605-6794. If 
you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text 
telephone (TTY), call, toll free: 1-877-576-7734.
    You can contact ED Pubs at its Web site: www.EDPubs.gov or at its 
email address: edpubs@inet.ed.gov.
    If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify 
this program or competition as follows: CFDA number 84.116D.
    Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application 
package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, 
or compact disc) by contacting the person listed under Accessible 
Format in section VIII of this notice.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you 
must submit, are in the application package for this program.
    Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application) 
is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that 
reviewers use to evaluate your application. Any application addressing 
the invitational priority must address it in the abstract and the 
narrative. You must limit the section of the application narrative that 
addresses:
     The selection criteria and the absolute priority to no 
more than 40 pages.
     The invitational priority to no more than three pages, if 
you address it.
    Please include a separate heading for the absolute priority and the 
invitational priority if you address it. Under no circumstances may the 
application narrative exceed 43 pages, using the following standards:
     A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1'' 
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.

    Note:  For purposes of determining compliance with the 43 page 
limit, each page on which there are words will be counted as one 
full page.

     Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application narrative, except titles, headings, 
footnotes, endnotes, quotations, references, and captions. Charts, 
tables, figures, and graphs in the application narrative may be single 
spaced.
     Use a font that is either 12 point or larger; or, no 
smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch). However, you may use a 10 
point font in charts, tables, figures, graphs, footnotes, and endnotes.
     Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, 
Courier New, or Arial. An application submitted in any other font 
(including Times Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
    The page limit does not apply to Part I, the Application for 
Federal Assistance (SF 424) and the Department of Education 
Supplemental Information for the SF 424 Form; the one-page Abstract; 
Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED 524); or Part IV, the 
Assurances and Certifications. The page limit also does not apply to a 
Table of Contents, if you include one. However, the page limit does 
apply to all of the project narrative section in Part III.
    If you include any attachments or appendices not specifically 
requested, these items will be counted as part of the program narrative 
[Part III] for purposes of the page limit requirement. We will reject 
your application if you exceed the page limit, or if you apply other 
standards and exceed the equivalent of the page limit.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: June 19, 2015.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 3, 2015.
    Applications for grants under this program must be submitted 
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For 
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your 
application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, please refer to section IV. 7. Other Submission 
Requirements of this notice.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact 
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII 
of this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the 
application process, the individual's application remains subject to 
all other requirements and limitations in this notice.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive 
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about 
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order 
12372 is in the application package for this program.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification 
Number, and System for Award Management: To do business with the 
Department of Education, you must--
    a. Have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and a 
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN);
    b. Register both your DUNS number and TIN with the System for Award 
Management (SAM) (formerly the Central Contractor Registry (CCR)), the 
Government's primary registrant database;
    c. Provide your DUNS number and TIN on your application; and
    d. Maintain an active SAM registration with current information 
while your application is under review by the Department and, if you 
are awarded a grant, during the project period.
    You can obtain a DUNS number from Dun and Bradstreet. A DUNS number 
can be created within one to two business days.
    If you are a corporate entity, agency, institution, or 
organization, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue Service. 
If you are an individual, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal 
Revenue Service or the Social Security Administration. If you need a 
new TIN, please allow two to five weeks for your TIN to become active.
    The SAM registration process can take approximately seven business 
days, but may take upwards of several weeks, depending on the 
completeness and accuracy of the data entered into the SAM database by 
an entity. Thus, if you think you might want to apply for Federal 
financial assistance under a

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program administered by the Department, please allow sufficient time to 
obtain and register your DUNS number and TIN. We strongly recommend 
that you register early.

    Note:  Once your SAM registration is active, you will need to 
allow 24 to 48 hours for the information to be available in 
Grants.gov and before you can submit an application through 
Grants.gov.

    If you are currently registered with SAM, you may not need to make 
any changes. However, please make certain that the TIN associated with 
your DUNS number is correct. Also note that you will need to update 
your registration annually. This may take three or more business days. 
Information about SAM is available at www.SAM.gov. To further assist 
you with obtaining and registering your DUNS number and TIN in SAM or 
updating your existing SAM account, we have prepared a SAM.gov Tip 
Sheet, which you can find at: www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/sam-faqs.html.
    In addition, if you are submitting your application via Grants.gov, 
you must (1) be designated by your organization as an Authorized 
Organization Representative (AOR); and (2) register yourself with 
Grants.gov as an AOR. Details on these steps are outlined at the 
following Grants.gov Web page: www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html.
    7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for awards under 
this program must be submitted electronically unless you qualify for an 
exception to this requirement in accordance with the instructions in 
this section.
    a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
    Applications for grants under the Center program, CFDA number 
84.116D, must be submitted electronically using the Governmentwide 
Grants.gov Apply site at www.Grants.gov. Through this site, you will be 
able to download a copy of the application package, complete it 
offline, and then upload and submit your application. You may not email 
an electronic copy of a grant application to us.
    We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format 
unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of 
the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no 
later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written 
statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these 
exceptions. Further information regarding calculation of the date that 
is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in 
this section under Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement.
    You may access the electronic application for the Center program at 
www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable application 
package for this program by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA 
number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.116, not 
84.116D).
    Please note the following:
     When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find 
information about submitting an application electronically through the 
site, as well as the hours of operation.
     Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time 
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must 
be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30:00 
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as 
otherwise noted in this section, we will not accept your application if 
it is received--that is, date and time stamped by the Grants.gov 
system--after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date. We do not consider an application that does not comply 
with the deadline requirements. When we retrieve your application from 
Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your application 
because it was date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system after 
4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date.
     The amount of time it can take to upload an application 
will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the 
application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we 
strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline 
date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.
     You should review and follow the Education Submission 
Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are 
included in the application package for this program to ensure that you 
submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov system. 
You can also find the Education Submission Procedures pertaining to 
Grants.gov under News and Events on the Department's G5 system home 
page at www.G5.gov.
     You will not receive additional point value because you 
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your 
application in paper format.
     You must submit all documents electronically, including 
all information you typically provide on the following forms: the 
Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of 
Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and 
certifications.
     You must upload any narrative sections and all other 
attachments to your application as files in a PDF (Portable Document) 
read-only, non-modifiable format. Do not upload an interactive or 
fillable PDF file. If you upload a file type other than a read-only, 
non-modifiable PDF or submit a password-protected file, we will not 
review that material.
     Your electronic application must comply with any page-
limit requirements described in this notice.
     After you electronically submit your application, you will 
receive from Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that 
contains a Grants.gov tracking number. (This notification indicates 
receipt by Grants.gov only, not receipt by the Department.) The 
Department then will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send 
a second notification to you by email. This second notification 
indicates that the Department has received your application and has 
assigned your application a PR/Award number (an ED-specified 
identifying number unique to your application).
     We may request that you provide us original signatures on 
forms at a later date.
    Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues 
with the Grants.gov System: If you are experiencing problems submitting 
your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov 
Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a 
Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it.
    If you are prevented from electronically submitting your 
application on the application deadline date because of technical 
problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an extension 
until 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to 
enable you to transmit your application electronically or by hand 
delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing 
instructions described elsewhere in this notice.
    If you submit an application after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC 
time, on the application deadline date, please contact the person 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this 
notice and provide an explanation of the technical problem you 
experienced with Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk 
Case Number. We will accept your

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application if we can confirm that a technical problem occurred with 
the Grants.gov system and that that problem affected your ability to 
submit your application by 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the 
application deadline date. The Department will contact you after a 
determination is made on whether your application will be accepted.

    Note:  The extensions to which we refer in this section apply 
only to the unavailability of, or technical problems with, the 
Grants.gov system. We will not grant you an extension if you failed 
to fully register to submit your application to Grants.gov before 
the application deadline date and time or if the technical problem 
you experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov system.

    Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an 
exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your 
application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application 
through the Grants.gov system because--
     You do not have access to the Internet; or
     You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to 
the Grants.gov system;
    and
     No later than two weeks before the application deadline 
date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the 
application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business 
day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement 
to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception 
prevents you from using the Internet to submit your application.
    If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be 
postmarked no later than two weeks before the application deadline 
date. If you fax your written statement to the Department, we must 
receive the faxed statement no later than two weeks before the 
application deadline date.
    Address and mail or fax your statement to: John Clement, National 
Center for Information and Technical Support for Postsecondary Students 
with Disabilities, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street NW., 
room 6006, Washington, DC 20006-8544. FAX: (202) 502-7877.
    Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the 
mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.
    b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
    If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a 
commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail 
the original and two copies of your application, on or before the 
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: 
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: 
(CFDA Number 84.116D), LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20202-4260. You must show proof of mailing consisting of 
one of the following:
    (1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.
    (2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the 
U.S. Postal Service.
    (3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial 
carrier.
    (4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the 
U.S. Department of Education.
    If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do 
not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
    (1) A private metered postmark.
    (2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
    If your application is postmarked after the application deadline 
date, we will not consider your application.

    Note:  The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a 
dated postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with 
your local post office.

    c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.
    If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper 
application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original 
and two copies of your application, by hand, on or before the 
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: 
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: 
(CFDA Number 84.116D), 550 12th Street SW., Room 7039, Potomac Center 
Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260.
    The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily 
between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, except 
Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays.

    Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you 
mail or hand deliver your application to the Department--
    (1) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by 
the Department--in Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including 
suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which you are 
submitting your application; and
    (2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a 
notification of receipt of your application. If you do not receive 
this notification within 15 business days from the application 
deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of Education 
Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The following selection criteria for this 
program are from 34 CFR 75.210 and from section 777(a) of the HEA (20 
U.S.C. 1140q(a)). We will award up to 100 points to an application 
under the selection criteria; the total possible points for each 
selection criterion are noted in parentheses.
    a. Demonstration of eligibility. (Maximum 25 points) The Secretary 
considers whether the applicant has demonstrated expertise and 
experience sufficient to meet the requirements to be an eligible entity 
under section 777(a)(3). In considering eligibility, the Secretary 
considers the following factors:
    1. Demonstrated expertise and experience in supporting students 
with disabilities in postsecondary education;
    2. Demonstrated technical knowledge necessary for the dissemination 
of information in accessible formats;
    3. Demonstrated experience working with diverse types of 
institutions of higher education, including community colleges; and
    4. Demonstrated expertise in the subjects necessary to support 
students across the broad spectrum of disabilities.
    b. Quality of the project design. (Maximum 15 points) The Secretary 
considers the quality of the design of the proposed project. In 
determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, the 
Secretary considers the following factors:
    1. The extent to which the design of the proposed project is 
appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target 
population or other identified needs;
    2. The extent to which the design for implementing and evaluating 
the proposed project will result in information to guide possible 
replication of project activities or strategies, including information 
about the effectiveness of the approach or strategies employed by the 
project;
    3. The extent to which the proposed project will establish linkages 
with other appropriate agencies and organizations providing services to 
the target population;
    4. The extent to which the proposed project is designed to build 
capacity and yield results that will extend beyond the period of 
Federal financial assistance; and

[[Page 35328]]

    5. The extent to which performance feedback and continuous 
improvement are integral to the design of the proposed project.
    c. Quality of project services. (Maximum 15 points) The Secretary 
considers the quality of the services to be provided by the proposed 
project. In determining the quality of the services to be provided by 
the proposed project, the Secretary considers the quality and 
sufficiency of strategies for ensuring equal access and treatment for 
eligible project participants who are members of groups that have 
traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national 
origin, gender, age, or disability. In addition, the Secretary 
considers:
    1. The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed 
project are appropriate to the needs of the intended recipients or 
beneficiaries of those services;
    2. The likelihood that the services to be provided by the proposed 
project will lead to improvements in the achievement of students as 
measured against rigorous academic standards;
    3. The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed 
project involve the collaboration of appropriate partners for 
maximizing the effectiveness of project services; and
    4. The extent to which the technical assistance services to be 
provided by the proposed project involve the use of efficient 
strategies, including the use of technology, as appropriate, and the 
leveraging of non-project resources.
    d. Quality of project personnel. (Maximum 15 points) The Secretary 
considers the quality of the personnel who will carry out the proposed 
project. In determining the quality of project personnel, the Secretary 
considers the extent to which the applicant encourages applications for 
employment from persons who are members of groups that have 
traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national 
origin, gender, age, or disability. In addition, the Secretary 
considers the following factors:
    1. The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of the project director or principal investigator;
    2. The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of key project personnel; and
    3. The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of project consultants or subcontractors.
    e. Quality of the Management Plan. (Maximum 10 points) The 
Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for the proposed 
project. In determining the quality of the management plan, the 
Secretary considers the following factors:
    1. The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives of 
the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly 
defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing 
project tasks;
    2. The adequacy of procedures for ensuring feedback and continuous 
improvement in the operation of the proposed project;
    3. The adequacy of mechanisms for ensuring high-quality products 
and services from the proposed project;
    4. The extent to which the time commitments of the project director 
and principal investigator and other key project personnel are 
appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed 
project; and
    5. How the applicant will ensure that a diversity of perspectives 
will be brought to bear in the operation of the proposed project, 
including those of parents, teachers, the business community, a variety 
of disciplinary and professional fields, recipients or beneficiaries of 
services, or others, as appropriate.
    f. Quality of the project evaluation. (Maximum 20 points) The 
Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be conducted of 
the proposed project. In determining the quality of the evaluation to 
be conducted for the proposed project, the Secretary considers the 
following factors:
    1. The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, 
feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the 
proposed project;
    2. The extent to which the methods of evaluation provide for 
examining the effectiveness of project implementation strategies;
    3. The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use of 
objective performance measures that are clearly related to the intended 
outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and qualitative 
data to the extent possible; and
    4. The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide 
feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward achieving 
intended outcomes.
    2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants 
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition, 
the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past 
performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as 
the applicant's use of funds, achievement of project objectives, and 
compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider 
whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or 
submitted a report of unacceptable quality.
    In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary 
also requires various assurances including those applicable to Federal 
civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or 
activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department 
of Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
    3. Special Conditions: Under 2 CFR 3474.10, the Secretary may 
impose special conditions and, in appropriate circumstances, high-risk 
conditions on a grant if the applicant or grantee is not financially 
stable; has a history of unsatisfactory performance; has a financial or 
other management system that does not meet the standards in 2 CFR part 
200, subpart D; has not fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant; or 
is otherwise not responsible.

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your 
U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award 
Notification (GAN); or we may send you an email containing a link to 
access an electronic version of your GAN. We may notify you informally, 
also.
    If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, 
we notify you.
    2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify 
administrative and national policy requirements in the application 
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable 
Regulations section of this notice.
    We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of 
an award in the Applicable Regulations section in this notice and 
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also 
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding 
commitments under the grant.
    3. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition, 
you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and 
systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170 
should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply 
if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
    (b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final 
performance report, including financial information, as directed by the 
Secretary. If you receive a multi-year award, you must submit an annual 
performance report that provides the most current performance and 
financial expenditure

[[Page 35329]]

information as directed by the Secretary under 34 CFR 75.118. The 
Secretary may also require more frequent performance reports under 34 
CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting, please go to 
www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
    4. Performance Measures: The Secretary has established the 
following Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA) 
performance measures for the Center:
    1. The extent to which the project serves students with 
disabilities, families of students with disabilities, individualized 
education program teams and individualized plan for employment teams, 
including growth in numbers served over time and improved user 
satisfaction ratings with the services received;
    2. The extent to which the project provides information and 
technical assistance to faculty, staff and administrators of 
institutions of higher education aimed at improving accommodation, 
retention and completion rates of students with disabilities, including 
growth in the number of persons and institutions served over time and 
improved user satisfaction ratings with services received, baseline 
change over time in retention and completion rates of students with 
disabilities at the institutions served; and
    3. The extent and growth over time in utilization of the database 
of disability services information by institutions of higher education, 
including improved user satisfaction ratings of the accessibility and 
utility of the information provided.
    These measures constitute the Department's indicators of success 
for this program. Consequently, we advise an applicant for an award 
under this program to give careful consideration to the 
operationalization of the measures in conceptualizing the approach and 
evaluation for its proposed project.
    If funded, you will be required to collect and report data in your 
project's annual performance report (34 CFR 75.590).

VII. Agency Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Clement, National Center for 
Information and Technical Support for Postsecondary Students with 
Disabilities, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room 
6006, Washington, DC 20006-8544. Telephone: (202)502-7520 FAX: (202) 
502-7877. Email: john.clement@ed.gov.
    If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-
8339.

VIII. Other Information

    Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format 
(e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc) on request to 
the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
in section VII of this notice.
    Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this 
document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free 
Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the 
Code of Federal Regulations is available via the Federal Digital System 
at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you can view this document, as well 
as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal 
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF 
you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the 
site.
    You may also access documents of the Department published in the 
Federal Register by using the article search feature at: 
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.
    Delegation of Authority: The Secretary of Education has delegated 
authority to Jamienne S. Studley, Deputy Under Secretary, to perform 
the functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary 
Education.

    Dated: June 16, 2015.
Jamienne S. Studley,
Deputy Under Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-15191 Filed 6-18-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P